NEW DELHI - Bahujan Samaj Party MP Dhananjay Singh, facing trial for allegedly repeatedly raping a woman between July 2005 and March 2009, was on April 15 granted interim bail till May 20 by a Delhi court. Additional Sessions Judge Sarita Birbal granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and a surety bond of like amount. The Supreme Court had on April 9 granted temporary bail to Singh, who along with his wife Jagriti Singh,

is accused of killing their maid, to file his nomination from Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. The sessions court, in its order, said that the complainant, a railway employee, has not supported the case of the prosecution and she had deposed that Singh had “neither committed rape on her nor threatened her”. It also said that the other prosecution witnesses, who are yet to be examined, were either doctors or police officials and it was not the case of the prosecution that these witnesses may be influenced by the accused. “In view of above, the accused is admitted to bail in the present case till the next date of hearing i.e. May 20 on furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 50,000 with one local surety of like amount...,” it said. (PTI)